DEP, DOT, DDC Complete Flushing Avenue Reconstruction

$53 Million Project to Improve Water Distribution and Enhance Streetscape in Brooklyn

Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, and Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney today announced the completion of a $53 million reconstruction project on Flushing Avenue to ensure a more reliable water supply system for the northern part of Brooklyn, and to enhance the local streetscape. As part of the project, two new steel trunk water mains, one 60-inch and the other 48-inch, have been added to the existing grid to improve water pressure and provide critical water redundancy throughout the area. It also included new or upgraded sanitary and storm sewers, curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals, streetlights, trees, traffic signage, bus stops, and street repavement. The reconstruction project was funded by DEP and DOT and managed by DDC.

"Projects like the Flushing Avenue reconstruction ensure that our water
distribution network will run smoothly for decades to come," said Commissioner
Holloway. "The addition of these two water mains adds crucial redundancy to the
Brooklyn water supply network so that service to our customers can remain
uninterrupted even when other parts of the system are under repair. I want to
thank DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and DDC Commissioner David Burney for
helping make this project a reality."

"This vital infrastructure project is now
the foundation as we work with communities to expand the Brooklyn Waterfront
Greenway, improving the streetscape even more and connecting neighborhoods along the entire
corridor," said Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.

"We appreciate
the patience and understanding by residents, merchants and businesses along
Flushing Avenue as we renewed the water supply and sewer system and rebuilt the
roadway from the Manhattan Bridge to Bushwick," said DDC Commissioner David J.
Burney, FAIA. "This improvement in infrastructure is now complete and will serve
the public for years to come."

"We are grateful to the many dedicated workers as well as to the New York
City Department of Environmental Protection for completing the Flushing Avenue
water main project. It is an essential improvement to the people who
depend on a consistent source of water within this corridor," said Council
Member Diana Reyna. "Projects like these provide critical infrastructure
upgrades for the residents and businesses in the area. This is an investment in
our future."

The new water mains on Flushing Avenue will improve water supply distribution
by providing a critical redundancy that will minimize disruption to consumers
during any future water main work and service shutdowns. Residents in northern
Brooklyn will also be less likely to experience low water pressure and
discolored water when other water mains in the vicinity are being repaired or
upgraded.

The reconstruction of Flushing Avenue took place between
Cypress Avenue and the Manhattan Bridge. The project added one 60-inch and one
48-inch trunk main nearly two miles in length and four miles of smaller water
distribution mains. In addition, two miles of combined sewers, 247 catch basins
and 104 fire hydrants were installed. The reconstruction also included the
installation of 42,175 linear feet of concrete curb, 480,900 square feet of
concrete sidewalk, 122,500 square yards of asphalt roadway, 86 traffic signals,
172 streetlights, new street signage, 49 bus stops and 320 trees.

Upgrading water distribution and sewer infrastructure is a central part of
DEP's upcoming capital plan. In Brooklyn specifically, DEP has budgeted $1.54
billion from FY 2010 through 2014, including $142 million for new sewers, $153
million for the Gowanus Pumping Station upgrade, as well as $548 million in
additional investments at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

DEP manages the City's water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of
water each day to more than 9 million residents. New York City's water is
delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the City, and
is comprised of 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000
miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses
throughout the five boroughs, and 7,400 miles of sewer lines take wastewater to
14 in-City treatment plants.